Holddown jaw for vises

ABSTRACT

A holddown jaw is provided for vises consisting of two detachable parts one of which is provided with two portions, one of which portions has a surface matched with a surface provided on the other part. The two portions are slidingly engageable in a transverse sense and one of the parts of the front portion is detachable for the purpose of substituting other parts having different working surfaces for engaging workpieces.

United States Patent Filed Priority Inventor Karl Degle Kempten, Germany 754,589

Aug. 22, l 968 Feb. 23, 1971 Georg Kesel KG. Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Kempton, Germany Aug. 22, 1967 Germany 1,290,896

Appl. No.

Patented Assignee HOLDDOWN JAW FOR VISES 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 269/284, 269/ 136 Int. Cl. B251) 1/24, 3251) 5/16 Field of Search 269/271 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,488,559 4/1924 Simokaitis 269/283X 2,861,492 11/1958 Hokanson 269/138 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,203 1961 France 269/138 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Donald D. Evenson AttorneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen noLnnowN JAW FOR vrsss DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a holddown jaw provided in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along line l-I in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of an interchangeable front jaw; FIG. 4 is a front face view of the jaw of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the exchange jaw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION bonded to each other by means of a resilient intermediate layer. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that such a holddown jaw must be changed in entiretyif and when a different shape of clamping surface, such as a corrugation or the provision of prism-shaped recesses is desired. A further disadvantage is that a holddown jaw having a rubber layer between its front and rear portions is suitable, at best, for vises having low clamping pressuresiln high-pressure vises, a rubber layer, even only 12 mils thick will impair faultless clamping.

The invention has as an object the creating of a holddown jaw suitable for any kind of vise, including high-pressure vises, the clamping surface of whichcan easily be changed from one finish or one configuration to another.- I

According to the invention, this problem is solved with .a construction in which the front and rear portions are made for direct contact with each other along their slanted surfaces, and the front portion is devised with a bipartite configuration, i.e. consisting of an intermediate piece integral with the slanting surface of the front portion and of a jaw detachably-attached to said intermediate piece. The front portion forms a U-shape with two legs accommodating the rear portion therebetween, and at least one of said legs slides on the rear portion in a guide groove permittinglateral sliding on or off the front portion.

Essential advantages are attained with the invention. The front and rear portions provided with parallel slanted surfaces support each other directly. The pairs of. slanted surfaces are ground for a perfect match so that precise clamping is assured even with the strongest of clamping forces. The U-shaped configuration of the front portion covers the upper side of the gap between the two slanted surfaces and protects it against the penetration of dust and shavings which always constitute a serious problem. The configuration of the intermediate piece as a simple wedge, makes it simple to fabricate. The rear portion and intermediate piece are always the same whereasv the jaw can be exchanged when desired, such as for example, to substitute a corrugated clamping surface for a smooth, plane one. Particularly advantageous is thefeature that the front portion can be pulled off laterally from the rear. portion in one simple motion by means of a handle whereby the slant surfaces become exposed and can be cleaned. The wedge of the front portion can be disassembled by loosening two screws, whereupon it can be attached to another jaw and then just as simply reassembled to the rear portion by sliding it on laterally. Since the matching pair of slant'surfaces is not subject to any exchange, the holddown effect remains precise and constant. The protection of the slide gap between the slant surfaces against the penetration of foreign matter particles, as well as the particularly easy possibility of cleaning said gap, result in minimum wear in operation and, therefore, a very considerable service life. In consideration of the advantages gained, the production costs for the holddown jaw according to the invention appear very moderate in comparison to those of other holddown jaws of known kind.

Also known is a holddown jaw of a different kind, which is also provided with slanting surfaces between jaw-holder and jaw. The jaw has prism-shaped recesses. If a jaw with a plane clamping surface is desired, the entire jaw, including a dovetail guide arrangement and a ground-in slant surface must be exchanged for another corresponding jaw. Each interchangeable jaw has to be produced at considerable cost on account of the match-grinding. Yet the gap between the slant surfaces is in no way protected against the penetration of dust and foreign particles. Lastly, this known holddown jaw does not fit any and all vises. j r

An advantageous development of the invention consists, among other improvements, in the provision on the rear portion of one upper and one lower transversal groove, into which grooves engage fillets at the ends of the legs, which face each other. Especially the upper transverse groove, in cooperation with the leg fillet forms a labyrinthlike seal for the slidegap, so that it is most effectively protected against contamination.

As a particularly essential advantage has emerged the almost perfect holddown effect, which exists practically immediately below the upper edge of the. jaw, and which cannot be found in other holddown jaws.

The following explains the invention in detail on the basis of the drawing which illustrates a nonlimitative embodiment.

In the drawing the holddown jaw 10 consists of the rear portion 12 and the front portion 14. The front portion 14 is devised in a bipartite configuration and consists of a wedge 16 and the front jaw 18. The rear portion 12 consists of the backplate 20 and a shoulder 22, whose forward face is devised as an inclined or slanted surface 24. The wedge 16 of the front portion 14 hasan inclined or slanted surface 26 on its rear face. The two slanted surfaces 24 and 26 are ground together for a perfect match. g

The jaw 18 of the front portion 14 has the shape of a U lying on its side and including an upper leg 28 and a lower leg 30. Facing each other, two fillets or flanges 32 and 34 are provided at the end of each leg, whichflanges extend over the entire width of the holddown jaw, and engage corresponding transverse grooves 36 and 34 in the rear portion, which extend likewise over the entire width of the holddown jaw 10.

The distance between the two legs 28 and 30 is slightly greater than the depth of the shoulder 22, so that in the operational state of the holddown jaw 10, there will exist a small gap between the upper surface of the shoulder 22 and the bottom surface of leg 28, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. This gap is necessary in order to obtain, when the workpiece is being clamped, a downward movement of the front jaw 18 relative to the rear portion 12. The transverse fillets 32 and 34 also have a corresponding vertical play in the transverse grooves 36 and 38, but also a slight play in the longitudinal or clamping ,direction as is necessary because, on account of the slanted surfaces 24 and 26 there occurs not only a downward movement when the workpiece is being clamped, but also a longitudinal component of movement.

For the purpose of maintaining the front portion 14 in its raised position relative to the rear portion 12, the latter is provided .with two longitudinal picket bores 40 which extend backward from the upper transversal groove, as can be seen in FIG. 2. One ball 42 and one helical spring 44 is lodged in each bore 40. When the rear portion is attached to the vise jaw 50 by means of at least two screws 48 extending through bores 46, the helical springs 44 abut against the frontal surface of the vise jaw 50. Thereby the ball 42 is forced into the transverse groove 36.

The wedge 16 is attached with twoscrews 52 to the front jaw 18. The thus completed front portion 14 is slid onto the rear'portion from the side, so that the two slant surfaces 24 and 26 slide upon each other. In the sliding on, the bottom edge of the rear-surface of the upper transverse fillet 32 engages the balls-42 and forces them backwards to some extent against the pressure of the helical springs 44. Transverse sliding of the front portion 14 is continued until the operational position is attained. This is defined by two small notches 54 in the bottom edge of the rear surface of the upper transverse fillet 32, into which the balls 42 will snap, when the proper position has been attained. Thus the spring-loaded balls 42 have a dual function, namely to press the front portion 14 into its raised operational position relative to the rear portion 12, in order that the subsequent holding down of a workpiece can be performed and, on the other hand, to arrest the front portion 14 transversely in the properly centered position relative to the rear portion 12 and to secure it against unwanted sideways movement.

The slanted surfaces 24 and 26 are very effectively protected against the penetration of dirt particles, since the upper transverse fillet 32 of the front portion 14 constitutes a sort of labyrinth seal in cooperation with the transverse groove 36 in the shoulder 22 of the rear portion.

ln FIGS. 1 and 2, the jaw 18 of the front portion 14 has a smooth face. If a differently finished or shaped face is desirable for the holddown jaw 10, it is not at all necessary to exchange the entire front portion 14, or even the entire holddown jaw 10. Only the jaw 18 of the front portion 14 need be changed.

ln FIGS. 3 through a universal front jaw 19 is represented, which can be used in the holddown jaw in lieu of the front jaw 18. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the universal jaw 19 also possesses an upper leg 28 and a lower leg 30, as well as the two transverse fillets 32 and 34. In order to carry out the substitution of jaw 19 for jaw 18, the front portion 14 is slid off laterally from the rear portion 12, for which purpose, initially, the resistance must be overcome, which'is ofi'ered by the balls 42 lodged in the notches 54. After the front portion 14 has been slid off, its screws 52 are loosened so that the wedge 16 can be disassembled. This wedge is now reassembled to jaw 19 in the same manner, whereupon the modified front portion, which consists of the prior wedge 16 and the new jaw 19, is slid onto the rear portion 12. Thereafter, the vise is immediately ready for use.

The front jaw 19 represented in FIGS. 3 through 5 is to be considered as a universal all-purpose jaw, since it possesses in its center a large, vertical prism-shaped recess 56, and two additional smaller vertical prism-shaped recesses 58 and 60, and one horizontal prism-shaped recess 62 as well as two milled flat slots 64 at either end for the clamping of flat workpieces.

In lieu of the all-purpose jaw 19 of FIGS. 3 through 5, there can be provided as a further alternate jaw, a jaw provided with a corrugated face. There is no limit to the possibilities existing for the provision of alternate jaws with special face profiles.

lclaim:

1. A holddown jaw for vises comprising a rear portion including a part with a reference surface, a front portion including mutually engageable parts one of which has a surface corresponding to the first said surface, and means for detachably connecting the parts of the front portion together, said front and rear portions being so shaped as to be matingly engageable with said surfaces in contact to control the relative attitudes of said front and rear portions, said one part of the front portion being detachable from the other part thereof for purposes of substitution for said other part, one of said parts of said front portion being U-shaped and including two legs and inwardly directed flanges on said legs, said rear portion being provided with grooves wherein said flanges are slidingly received to hold said front and rear portions together, said one part of said front portion being a wedge provided with said reference surface and accommodated between the legs of said U-shaped part, said rear portion including a shoulder extending between said legs and provided with the second said surface, said surfaces being inclined and matching planar surfaces.

2. A jaw as claimed in claim 1 comprising means detachably locking the wedge and said other part together.

3. A jaw as claimed in claim 2 comprising means yieldably holding the front and rear portions in fixed relation relative to the direction of said grooves.

4. A aw as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front and rear portions are so dimensioned and shaped as to fit together with play, the latter said means further taking up said play.

5. A jaw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wedge, flanges and grooves are of elongated rectilinear shape.

6. A jaw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latter said means includes spring and ball means extending through said rear portion and engaging in notches provided in the front portion.

7. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said notches are located in one of said grooves.

8. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front and rear portions collectively have a generally right quadrilateral cross section.

9. A jaw as claimed in claim 6 comprising means to attach said rear portion to a jaw holder.

10. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front portion is provided with a workpiece engaging surface. 

1. A holddown jaw for vises comprising a rear portion including a part with a reference surface, a front portion including mutually engageable parts one of which has a surface corresponding to the first said surface, and means for detachably connecting the parts of the front portion together, said front and rear portions being so shaped as to be matingly engageable with said surfaces in contact to control the relative attitudes of said front and rear portions, said one part of the front portion being detachable from the other part thereof for purposes of substitution for said other part, one of said parts of said front portion being U-shaped and including two legs and inwardly directed flanges on said legs, said rear portion being provided with grooves wherein said flanges are slidingly received to hold said front and rear portions together, said one part of said front portion being a wedge provided with said reference surface and accommodated between the legs of said U-shaped part, said rear portion including a shoulder extending between said legs and provided with the second said surface, said surfaces being inclined and matching planar surfaces.
 2. A jaw as claimed in claim 1 comprising means detachably locking the wedge and said other part together.
 3. A jaw as claimed in claim 2 comprising means yieldably holding the front and rear portions in fixed relation relative to the direction of said grooves.
 4. A jaw as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front and rear portions are so dimensioned and shaped as to fit together with play, the latter said means further taking up said play.
 5. A jaw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wedge, flanges and grooves are of elongated rectilinear shape.
 6. A jaw as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latter said means includes spring and ball means extending through said rear portion and engaging in notches provided in the front portion.
 7. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said notches are located in one of said grooves.
 8. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front and rear portions collectively have a generally right quadrilateral cross section.
 9. A jaw as claimed in claim 6 comprising means to attach said rear portion to a jaw holder.
 10. A jaw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front portion is provided with a workpiece engaging surface. 